WHATCOM COUNTY COMMISSION ON SALARIES
FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
MINUTES
Thursday, March 16, 2017, 4:00 p.m.
Whatcom Transportation Authority Board Room
4111 Bakerview Spur
Bellingham, WA
A. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Brian Lydiard at 4:00 p.m.
ATTENDANCE
Members Present: Mike Arbiter, Kristi Birkeland, Steve King, Brian Lydiard, Jason
Russell, Diana Schmidt, Jon Sitkin, Wendy Wefer-Clinton
Members Absent:
Justin Iverson, Todd Morris
Staff Present:
Andy Rowlson-WTA Director of Human Resources and
Commission Facilitator, Vicki Esser-WTA Executive Assistant/
Clerk of the Board and Commission Administrative Assistant
Others Present:
Kie Relyea - Bellingham Herald Reporter
B. PUBLIC COMMENT
B.1 Communication from Steve Oliver, Treasurer
Mr. Rowlson, Commission Facilitator, directed the committee’s attention to the
information submitted by Steve Oliver, Whatcom County Treasurer, which was
provided in the meeting packet.
C. APPROVAL OF FEB. 16, 2017 MEETING MINUTES
MOTION BY ARBITER, SECONDED BY BIRKELAND TO APPROVE THE
MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 16, 2017 MEETING.
The motion passed unanimously.
D. INFORMATION REQUESTS
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D.1 Review of Salary Options
Andy Rowlson, Commission Facilitator, reviewed the packet data with
commission members. He covered different possible options for methods of
determining future salaries.
The commission agreed they do not want to use the “Salaries as a Percentage
of Highest Paid Elected Official” method because if the Prosecuting Attorney’s
salary is tied to the State Superior Court Judge, as it is now, then they lose
local control.
The main points of further discussion were:
 The Commission wants salary levels that attract and retain experienced,
qualified people.
 The County currently pays above the average of the comparables for
every position except County Executive.
D.2 Review of Salary Commission Questions
a. Should the Commission use the same compensation model as past
Commissions or change it?
There was consensus that the former model will be used as a basis for
discussion, but the commission wants to make some changes.
b. Some elected officials lost their car allowance in 2011. Should this factor
into adjusting current compensation?
There was consensus that the loss of the car allowance should not be
considered as a factor since salaries for these positions are above the
average of the other county comparables.
c. Should the Prosecuting Attorney’s salary be tied to the State Superior Court
Judge salary (as is the current and common practice)?
There was agreement not to tie the Prosecuting Attorney’s salary to the
State Superior Court Judges any longer. The State is giving them a 2%
COLA plus a 2% adjustment to keep up with federal judges. It was felt that
4% was too much of an increase. There was also concern that the tie limits
local control.
d. Is compression (a deputy making more than the elected official) something
that should be addressed?
It was agreed that compression is something worth monitoring, but not an
issue for the commission this year.
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e. Are salaries generally correct, or is a significant adjustment necessary for
any one position?
It was agreed that a cost of living adjustment (COLA) is appropriate for all
positions, and each position will be discussed separately.
E. DISCUSSION
County Council
It was agreed that the current County Council pay is appropriate. It was stated
that the last commission gave them a significant increase to make sure we can
get good people to run for office. It was also agreed that they should get a
1.9%-2% COLA along with the other positions.
Sheriff
It was pointed out that the Bellingham Police Chief makes $141,000 which is
$6,000 more than the Sheriff. It was noted that the Sheriff’s pay is significantly
above the comparable counties, but he is the only one in that group who is in
charge of a jail. There were comments about the Sheriff’s duties being far
broader than the Bellingham Police Chief’s. It was stated that the Sheriff is also
dealing with a vast territory including the border, search & rescue, migrant farm
workers, tribal relations, etc.
MOTION BY SITKIN, SECONDED BY KING TO INCREASE THE SHERIFF’S
SALARY TO $145,000.
After further discussion, Mr. Sitkin stated that he would be willing to amend his
motion to raise the salary to $145,000 over two years if that is more acceptable
to the commission.
A vote was taken on the original motion. The motion failed 2 – 6.
MOTION BY SITKIN, SECONDED BY KING TO INCREASE THE SHERIFF’S
SALARY TO $142,000 BY 2019 WITH THE COLA APPLIED FIRST AND
ADJUSTMENTS SPREAD EQUALLY OVER TWO YEARS.
The motion passed 5 – 3.
Assessor, Auditor, Treasurer
It was pointed out that the salaries for these three positions have been tied
together since at least 1981 and this practice is commonplace around the State.
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It was stated that we can anticipate additional changes and challenges in the
future for law enforcement and the Sheriff, but cannot see what will be
significantly different for these positions.
It was restated that the group decided the loss of the car allowance is not a
compelling factor for a significant adjustment.
It was agreed that since these positions are paid above the county comparables,
only a COLA is appropriate.
It was decided to use a 1.9% COLA for 2018 because it matches the consumer
price index average.
MOTION BY SITKIN, SECONDED BY ARBITER THAT THE COST OF LIVING
ADJUSTMENT (COLA) BE SET AT 1.9% FOR 2018 AND 2% FOR 2019.
The motion passed 8 – 0.
MOTION BY ARBITER, SECONDED BY RUSSELL THAT THE TREASURER,
ASSESSOR, AND AUDITOR RECEIVE A 1.9% COLA FOR 2018 AND A 2%
COLA FOR 2019.
The motion passed 8 – 0.
Prosecuting Attorney
It was agreed to separate the Prosecuting Attorney’s salary from the State
Superior Court Judge salary because the tie to the State Superior Court Judge
salary limits local control.
MOTION BY WEFER-CLINTON, SECONDED BY BIRKELAND THAT THE
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S SALARY BE SEPARATED FROM THE STATE
SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE SALARY AND THAT THE PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY RECEIVE A 1.9% COLA FOR 2018 AND A 2% COLA FOR 2019.
The motion passed 8 – 0.
County Executive
Several counties were listed that pay their Executive more than their Prosecuting
Attorney, while Whatcom’s Executive is currently paid over $7,000 less. It was
pointed out that the County Executive oversees 400 employees and a budget of
$121 million.
MOTION BY SITKIN TO RAISE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S SALARY TO
$170,000 IN 2018 AND GIVE A 2% COLA IN 2019.
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A commission member commented that normally the COLA would be applied
first and then an adjustment would be added.
The motion died for lack of a second.
MOTION BY ARBITER, SECONDED BY SITKIN THAT A 1.9% COLA BE
APPLIED TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S SALARY IN 2018 AND THEN AN
ADJUSTMENT BE ADDED TO MATCH THE SALARY TO THE PROSECUTING
ATTORNEY’S SALARY FOR 2018. IN 2019 THE 2% COLA IS TO BE APPLIED
TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S SALARY AGAIN MATCHING IT TO THE
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S SALARY.
The motion passed 8 – 0.
F. NEXT STEPS
Mr. Rowlson suggested that we create a document explaining these decisions, send
it to Chairman Lydiard for review, then publish it as a draft document and set a
Public Hearing for the April 20th meeting. He stated that the document could be
either adjusted or approved at the April 20th meeting.
Upon request, Mr. Rowlson agreed to send the draft document to the whole
commission for review before publication, but he stressed the importance of a quick
reply, before the deadline he will establish, so the document can be published in
time to advertise the Public Hearing.
The group agreed to set the Public Hearing for the April 20th meeting.
There was a request that when the reminder goes out for the next meeting,
commission members be reminded that approval of the final salary placement
document requires six affirmative votes.
H. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 5:57 p.m. by Chairman Brian Lydiard.
Minutes approved by the Commission in open public meeting on __________________.
Date
Whatcom County Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials
Whatcom County, Washington
____________________________________
Brian Lydiard
Chairman
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Attest:
___________________________________
Vicki G. Esser
Commission Administrative Assistant
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